"The Jiang family?" Guan Lianghan frowned. "That Jiang Quan's family from the capital? I don't have anyone named Jiang under my command, not even among the lower ranks. Why are you looking for the Jiang family's eldest son? When did you get involved with the Jiang family? Third Brother, don't blame me for not warning you—the Jiang family is a cesspool. Behind them is the Xia Family, and you know what the Xia Family is like—entangled with the Eighth Prince. That Eighth Prince is like filthy mud; anyone who touches him is damned!"
"I have nothing to do with Ye Li," Xiao Shao said.
"Second Brother, Third Brother isn't doing this for the Eighth Prince," Mo Cong teased. "It's for the Jiang family's eldest daughter."
"What eldest daughter of the Jiang family?" Guan Lianghan asked. "Doesn't Jiang Quan only have one daughter, that so-called talented girl? Third Brother, have you taken a liking to her? Surely not—when did your taste become so poor?"
Having been away from the capital for a year, Guan Lianghan knew nothing about Jiang Ruan. Xiao Shao shot a cold glance at Mo Cong, who remained unfazed and rubbed his nose. "Third Brother, Ye Feng already told me—you ordered him to investigate the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. What's the big deal?" He grinned mischievously at Guan Lianghan. "This eldest daughter just returned to the capital around the New Year. She's the daughter of Lord Jiang's deceased wife, stunningly beautiful, but—" He paused meaningfully. "Her temper is quite fierce, and she's extremely shrewd. She's been playing the second daughter and Madam Jiang like fools." He suddenly chuckled, as if recalling something. "Even that second young master of the Jiang family might have fallen into her trap." Mo Cong was sharp; he had already guessed a thing or two about Jiang Chao's situation. Hearing this, Guan Lianghan frowned. "From what you're saying, she sounds like a venomous woman?"
"What kind of person she is doesn't matter," Xiao Shao cut in. "Are you absolutely certain there's no one named Jiang Xinzhi under your command?"
Seeing his seriousness, Guan Lianghan dropped his playful demeanor. "There's no Jiang Xinzhi, but I do know someone named Zhao Xinzhi."
Zhao Xinzhi? Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. "That must be him." It made sense—Jiang Xinzhi despised the Jiang family. If he had joined the military, changing his surname to his mother's was entirely plausible.
"Where is he now?" Xiao Shao asked.
"I came ahead to the capital; he's following behind with the troops," Guan Lianghan replied. "He's my deputy general. Are you saying he's the eldest son of the Jiang family?"
"Deputy general?" Mo Cong glanced at Xiao Shao. "Third Brother, your brother-in-law is quite impressive."
Both Guan Lianghan and Xiao Shao ignored Mo Cong. Guan Lianghan continued, "This Zhao Xinzhi is no ordinary man. He started as a lowly cook in the army, excelled at it, and climbed the ranks step by step. When he first joined, he was as thin as Old Seven—looked like a scholar who could be blown away by a gust of wind. He kept begging to be sent to the battlefield, but I refused. Later, seeing how well he'd toughened up, I took him into battle. The man fears nothing. At first, he couldn't bring himself to kill, but once he started, he became ruthless—shed all that scholarly softness. I saw he had the makings of a real man, and his performance in battle kept improving. After a few military achievements, I promoted him to deputy general. This time, he was the one who insisted on returning to the capital with me."Xiao Shao looked at him, and Guan Lianghan said, "The eldest daughter of the Jiang family you mentioned—if Zhao Xin Zhi is really Jiang Xin Zhi, then the Jiang eldest daughter is his sister. I’ve heard about Zhao Xin Zhi’s sister. Back then, when I asked him why he wasn’t afraid of dying in battle, he said he needed to earn military merits and rise in rank to gain the status to protect his sister." He paused, glancing at Mo Cong. "But when Zhao Xin Zhi spoke of his sister, he described her as pure and lovely, gentle and meek, someone who was bullied everywhere. How does she become a venomous woman in your words?"
Mo Cong spat out his water, his expression odd. "Gentle and meek? Pure and lovely? Bullied everywhere?" He grabbed Xiao Shao’s arm. "Third Brother, I think you must have mistaken the person. That Zhao Xin Zhi definitely isn’t the same as Jiang Xin Zhi. From what I’ve seen of the Jiang eldest daughter, there’s no way she’s someone who gets bullied—it’s more like others should worry about being bullied by her."
Xiao Shao pulled his hand away. "What kind of person do you think Zhao Xin Zhi is?"
Seeing Xiao Shao’s serious expression, Guan Lianghan straightened his face. "If he really is Jiang Quan’s offspring, as you say, then he’s a different kind of person from Jiang Quan. Whether he was a scholar before or now a deputy general, he’s still a man of character."
"Was there anything particularly unusual about him?" Xiao Shao’s deep eyes were heavy with emotion. "For example... prophecies."
"Prophecies?" Guan Lianghan was stunned. "Third Brother, are you sick? What prophecies? If he could prophesy, we’d win every battle—what would we need a general like me for?"
Mo Cong, however, seemed intrigued by Xiao Shao’s words. "Third Brother, have you discovered something?"
"Nothing." Xiao Shao’s voice was cold. "The Emperor has assigned the Eighth Prince to oversee flood control and even sent Li An."
"Li An? What’s he coming back for?" Mo Cong said, his hostility toward Li An evident. Li An was exceptionally intelligent, but he never used his talents for good. Almost every noble youth who had any interaction with him as a child had fallen victim to his schemes—Mo Cong was no exception. And because Mo Cong was also quite clever, Li An had gone out of his way to trip him up repeatedly in their youth. As Li An grew older, his underhanded tactics only became more refined and increasingly ruthless.
"What does the Emperor mean by this? Is he favoring the Eighth Prince?" Guan Lianghan asked. Such words, if overheard by outsiders, would be considered treasonous, but Guan Lianghan didn’t seem to care. If Ye Li succeeded in flood control, his prestige in the court and among the people would rise, while the Crown Prince’s position would become increasingly precarious. The thoughts of the one seated on the dragon throne in the nine-layered palace had always been inscrutable to his subjects, and in recent years, they had become even more unfathomable. Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood with truth—even Ye Li himself might not understand the Emperor’s intentions.
"If he truly favored Ye Li, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have lived this long," Xiao Shao scoffed.
"Third Brother, what should we do now?"
"Wait." Xiao Shao gazed at the teacup before him, speaking calmly. "Li An’s sudden return to the capital isn’t a coincidence. I want to see what the Li family is up to."
...
More than twenty days passed, and the rain in the capital still hadn’t stopped.The drizzling rain seemed harmless at first glance, but its relentless fall day and night led to the emergence of large numbers of dead livestock in the capital, not to mention the devastation of crops. And it wasn’t just the capital—the entire Da Jin Dynasty was shrouded in the shadow of floods. A few days prior, the rising waters of the Moat River had breached the embankments, drowning many of the riverside residents. The government’s disaster relief efforts were as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot, making flood control the most urgent task. The court allocated vast sums of silver to aid disaster-stricken areas across the land, a seemingly generous gesture. Yet, as the funds trickled down through layers of bureaucracy, each official took their customary cut, leaving the victims with little more than scraps.
As a result, the number of displaced people swelled. Many, having lost their homes and fields to the floods, became homeless refugees. These refugees flocked to the capital—partly because the city’s higher elevation spared it the worst of the flooding, and partly because, being at the emperor’s feet, they hoped for a hot meal from the government’s relief efforts.
But as the floodwaters continued to rise and the influx of refugees grew, the government could no longer sustain the massive cost of food and supplies. Three days earlier, they had halted food distribution altogether. Starving refugees began looting wealthy households, who naturally had personal guards to protect them. Tensions between the refugees and the capital’s elite escalated daily. What had started as isolated robberies had now turned into organized raids by groups of three or five. The wealthy barricaded themselves indoors, too afraid to venture out. Panic gripped the capital, with everyone praying for the floods to recede soon.
The Jiang household still had enough provisions to last a while, so its members remained oblivious to the crisis. The only notable change was the frequent visits of Li An, the second young master of the Li family, to the Jiang residence. He did nothing more than chat with Jiang Quan, always maintaining a polite demeanor. Unable to discern Li Dong’s intentions, Jiang Quan took Li An’s lack of hostility as a sign of goodwill and subtly reciprocated the overture.
Lianqiao entered carrying a flower basket, her voice laced with disdain. “That Second Young Master Li is here again today. Anyone would think the Jiang residence is his home. It’s as if he’s forgotten about his elder brother’s injuries and wants to make peace.”
Jiang Ruan, who had been reading on the couch, glanced up at these words. The Li family would never reconcile with the Jiangs. Li Yang was now a cripple, and neither Li Dong nor Li An were magnanimous men. Li An’s current behavior simply meant he no longer saw Jiang Quan and Jiang Susu as enemies.
Zisu frowned. “This morning, when I passed the courtyard, I ran into the Fifth Concubine again. She said the master proposed sending over the young lady’s marriage agreement to foster goodwill with the Li family. Second Young Master Li didn’t agree, but he didn’t outright refuse either. Young lady, what should we do?”
“No need to worry.” Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. “Li An is a man of deep cunning. If he truly wanted me in the Li household, he’d wait until I was utterly defeated, stripped of all resistance, before slowly tormenting me. He wouldn’t make it this simple.” Unfortunately for him, this time, Li An would never live to see that day.
Zisu and Lianqiao exchanged uneasy glances but swallowed their words upon seeing Jiang Ruan’s indifference. Just then, Luzhu hurried in, her face alight with barely concealed excitement. She closed the door behind her and, after checking that no one was outside, shut the window as well.She walked up to Jiang Ruan and lowered her voice with a smile, "Miss, a servant from Young Master Gu's side sent word that there might be news about the eldest young master. However, General Guan rushed back on horseback, but the army is still on the road and won’t arrive for another ten days or so." She continued, "Young Master Gu said it’s not yet confirmed, but it’s almost certain—that person is the eldest young master." Luzhu beamed, "The eldest young master is now a deputy general!"
Luzhu and Zisu were stunned. Jiang Ruan stood up abruptly and grabbed Luzhu’s hand, "Is it true?"
Seeing her excitement, Luzhu chuckled, "Absolutely true."
Zisu and Lianqiao both smiled, saying, "Now the bitterness is finally over. Once the eldest young master returns to the manor, he’ll surely protect you well, miss."
Jiang Ruan sat back on the soft couch, her eyes growing warm.
Jiang Xin Zhi was alive! Her only elder brother was alive! In this world, she was not entirely without someone to rely on. There was still time in this lifetime—she would definitely help Jiang Xin Zhi rewrite his tragic fate!
With this thought, the worries and melancholy of the past days vanished, replaced by a surge of determination. In this life, Jiang Xin Zhi would live strong and healthy, and the two siblings would make sure their past enemies died horribly, paying in blood for their debts!
Jiang Ruan suddenly stood up again, her beautiful eyes captivating and resolute. "In that case, it’s time to prepare for some things." She said, "Luzhu, go outside and hire a few people—use displaced refugees. Offer them food and shelter as payment, and buy a large cauldron."
"Miss, what is this for?" Lianqiao asked hesitantly.
"I’m going to distribute porridge," Jiang Ruan replied calmly.
The long-concealed plan could finally be put to use now.
...
The number of refugees in the capital had grown increasingly large. The influx of displaced people cast an uneasy shadow over the city. The commoners on the streets hurried along, their faces ashen, most dragging their starving bodies in hopes of finding work or a meal from wealthy households. As for the refugees, it went without saying—the stronger ones had begun openly robbing in the streets. The city guards were overwhelmed, but the officials were reluctant to arrest these people—after all, prison meals required food too.
Yet, despite this, the Emperor had not expelled the refugees. On the surface, the Da Jin Dynasty appeared peaceful, but the turmoil within the court was only understood by those embroiled in it. At this critical moment, no major incidents could be allowed. However, given the circumstances, the Emperor was in a foul mood, and the officials trembled daily during court sessions. Some upright ministers, concerned for the people, proposed widespread relief efforts, but they were met with the Emperor’s increasingly displeased expression. The national treasury was empty—the disaster relief funds distributed to various regions earlier had already drained the treasury’s silver. With this year’s crops ruined, the grain taxes collected were nothing but an empty ledger.
Amidst this atmosphere of fear and unrest, someone in the city set up a shed and began distributing food again.
At this critical juncture, the court, though willing, lacked the means and had long stopped distributing porridge. Naturally, the commoners and refugees rejoiced, believing the court still cared for them, and spread the news eagerly.
The porridge distribution shed was simple. On one side, people handed out porridge, while on the other, a massive cauldron was set up to keep the supply steady. The long queue stretched so far it nearly blocked two streets in the city. Eight men guarded the cauldron—all burly middle-aged men with imposing builds and fierce expressions. Those who had harbored thoughts of taking advantage of the chaos quickly abandoned their schemes.The person distributing the porridge was a kind-faced woman who announced loudly, "With the heavens showing strange omens and floods wreaking havoc, we are all suffering souls. Our General, out of compassion for the people, has exchanged half his family fortune for grain to distribute to everyone. Starting today, we will be handing out porridge here every morning. Each person may receive one bowl, but only one. Times are hard, and the General says that if the first half of the fortune is exhausted, the remaining half will also be used to aid the people. Please understand, everyone. Heaven watches over Dajin, and His Majesty is benevolent and wise. We believe we can overcome this disaster together!"
Her words were inspiring, instantly filling people with hope. Someone asked, "May I ask, madam, which General's household do you belong to?"
"How dare a lowly servant like me be called 'madam'?" the woman laughed. "Our household is that of the Assistant State General, the Zhao family."
"General Zhao!" The crowd buzzed with discussion. Zhao Guang enjoyed a good reputation among the people, and soon voices rose in gratitude: "Thank you for General Zhao's kindness!"
"General Zhao is truly a hero!"
"We'd even be willing to serve as oxen or horses for him!"
Most were praises. Outside the crowd receiving porridge, a carriage stood quietly. Luzhu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peek outside and whispered excitedly, "Miss, this is perfect."
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "The person you found is excellent." Just listening from outside, she could tell the servant woman had a silver tongue. Luzhu blushed and replied, "That woman was originally a governess for a noble family's daughter in Cangzhou. She's literate and articulate, but her entire household perished in the flood, leaving only her to come to the capital. I thought her speech was proper—since we're pretending to be from the General's Residence, it had to look convincing."
"This is already very good," Jiang Ruan said with a smile.
Not far from the carriage stood a man, tall and straight, his black robes accentuating his noble bearing. At this moment, he gazed at the line of people receiving porridge, a shadow passing through his beautiful eyes.
After a moment, he said to the guard beside him, "Investigate that woman."
"She's not from the General's Residence?" Jin Yi was surprised. "Then... who would do good deeds under someone else's name?" Moreover, with grain scarce in the city now, giving out a bowl of porridge daily was no small gesture—it was far from ordinary.
Xiao Shao remained silent, but Jiang Ruan's indifferent smile flashed in his mind. Over a month ago, she had bought up all the old grain in the capital—was it for this day? His instincts told him this matter was connected to her, but the rain had only just begun over a month ago. How could she have known a flood was coming?
...
General's Residence
Zhao Guang sat in his study. Though already in his sixties, he remained vigorous, his square and stern features marking him as a seasoned military man.
His three sons stood before him, all looking grave.
"His Lordship the Commandery Duke hinted to me after court yesterday," Zhao Guang said. "The Eighth Prince is preparing to move against the Zhao family."
The third son, Zhao Yuanfeng, hot-tempered, exclaimed, "Father, are we afraid of him? A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe. Let him bring whatever he has—the Zhao family isn't something a mere prince can shake!"
"Silence!" Zhao Guang snapped. "If His Lordship said so, the matter is serious. Get out of here and don't add to your father's troubles!""Third Brother," said the second young master of the Zhao family, Zhao Yuanping, who was fair-skinned and handsome with the demeanor of a scholarly general. "You don’t understand who Ye Li is. In the court over the past few years, how many of those not on his side have fallen into his hands? He doesn’t use straightforward methods."
The eldest young master, Zhao Yuanjia, sighed. "Second Brother is right. But why would the Eighth Prince suddenly want to target our Zhao family? The Fifth Prince hasn’t fallen yet, and we support the Crown Prince. Why would he act so rashly?"
"Perhaps he’s preparing for a major move," Zhao Guang said darkly. "The Emperor has protected the Crown Prince for so many years. With the Eighth Prince’s intelligence, he must have seen through it long ago. He wants to drag the Zhao family down with him."
"Then what should we do?" Zhao Yuanfeng asked indignantly. "Just let him scheme like this?"
"The Duke would rather die than reveal even a hint," Zhao Guang sighed. "This is no small matter." He changed the subject. "Now, with more and more refugees flooding the capital and the floods unlikely to stop anytime soon, the Emperor has sent the Eighth Prince and the Li family to manage the reservoirs. I can’t shake the feeling there’s more to it."
Zhao Guang had won countless battles in his youth and possessed a soldier’s instinct for danger, honed on the battlefield.
Zhao Yuanjia mused, "Yi’er has been saying the same these past few days. The City Garrison has more than doubled. The capital may be on the verge of upheaval."
Just then, a servant rushed in frantically. "Master, something’s happened!"
Zhao Guang frowned. "What is it?"
The servant spoke clearly and concisely. "Someone is distributing porridge in the city—one bowl per day—but they’re using the name of our General’s Residence."
"What?" Zhao Guang shot up from his seat. "Is this true?"
Zhao Yuanfeng exclaimed, "No way! Father, is this the Eighth Prince’s doing? Has he lost his mind?"
Zhao Guang frowned. "Do we recognize the people involved?"
The servant shook his head. "Our people went to check—they’re all strangers. But they’re not doing anything else besides handing out porridge."
"Father, should I go take a look?" Zhao Yuanjia asked softly.
"No," Zhao Guang waved his hand. "This is suspicious. Let’s wait a few more days."
One thing was certain: the people distributing porridge were definitely not from their General’s Residence. What was their motive for using the Zhao name? Were they Ye Li’s men or someone else? If it was Ye Li, did he have a backup plan? If not, who else could afford to give away so much grain, and what were they after?
No matter what, they couldn’t act recklessly.
...
News of General Zhao distributing grain and porridge spread through the capital like wildfire that very day. Soon, it was the talk of every street and alley, and the Eighth Prince’s residence naturally received the report as well.
Ye Li smashed the porcelain cup in his hand with a loud "crack." Though his face still wore a gentle smile, a closer look revealed the faint twitch at the corner of his lips—a clear sign of suppressed fury.
"What a move, Zhao Guang!" he said coldly.
An advisor asked, "Your Highness, how could the news have leaked? Could there be a traitor in our midst?"Ye Li sneered, "What else could it be? Zhao Guang actually had this trick up his sleeve—truly eye-opening!" He had originally planned to seize this opportunity to submit a memorial proposing that Zhao Guang use his family's grain reserves for disaster relief, with his own allies chiming in to support the idea. With the national treasury depleted and the Emperor anxious, the proposal would surely be approved. The Zhao family's financial strength would be weakened, making them much easier to deal with in the future. Moreover, by suggesting this plan, he would earn the Emperor's favor and boost his reputation among the court and the public.
But now, Zhao Guang had taken the initiative to distribute porridge. While it might seem like the Zhao family's wealth would still be diminished as planned, the implications for Ye Li were vastly different! By proactively and willingly providing relief, Zhao Guang not only gained the Emperor's praise but also built greater prestige among the common people. On the surface, it appeared their influence was weakened, but in reality, it remained intact—if not strengthened. And with no room for Ye Li to intervene, all his efforts had been in vain. What a wasted opportunity!
"How did Zhao Guang come up with the idea to take the initiative in disaster relief?" an advisor remarked. "He's always been stubborn and inflexible. How could he bear to squander the wealth accumulated by the Zhao family over generations?" To donate generations' worth of savings required immense courage.
"He certainly has audacity," Ye Li remarked. "But that makes him even more indispensable." Even resorting to such a tactic of retreating to advance—the Zhao family, having served the court for generations, was indeed not so easily toppled. It never crossed his mind that someone else might be using Zhao Guang's name to distribute porridge. After all, grain was now more valuable than silver, and no one would sacrifice such a large sum of money to pave the way for another's success.
"Your Highness, what about the spy in the residence...?" the advisor hesitantly inquired.
"Anyone capable of passing messages to the Zhao family right under my nose won’t be easily exposed. Kill them all and replace the entire lot," he ordered.
"Your Highness!" The advisor was aghast. "These were all carefully selected individuals." Each one required significant time and resources to train—to kill them all now would be an immense waste.
Ye Li remained unmoved, a cold smile on his lips. "Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one slip away. Kill them."
...
The news that General Zhao Guang, the State Protector, had emptied his personal fortune to aid the people spread swiftly to the imperial court. Naturally, the Emperor was exceedingly pleased. Zhao Guang’s actions provided the Emperor with a pretext to demand contributions from other officials, and soon, every court official had donated funds to replenish the depleted national treasury. Zhao Guang received verbal commendation and earned public acclaim, seemingly suffering no loss.
True to their word, the porridge distributors arrived in the city early each morning to feed the people. With a steady supply of food, the number of desperate refugees resorting to robbery in the capital dwindled, bringing a period of relative peace. Zhao Guang neither confirmed nor denied his involvement in the porridge distribution, nor did he ever visit the sites himself. Life carried on uneventfully—until one day, when City Guard Commander Zhao Yi was patrolling the streets of the capital on horseback. The recent stability among the refugees had lightened his daily duties considerably. Just then, a soldier came galloping toward him in great haste, urgency written across his face. "Sir," he reported, "a group of refugees in Chongxin Village, east of the city, has clashed with local residents over food."
Zhao Yi frowned. As the eldest grandson of the Zhao family, he had inherited Zhao Yuanjia’s unyielding integrity and despised such lawless banditry. "Even with daily porridge distributions, they dare to act so brazenly—this is intolerable!" he fumed, then turned to his soldiers. "Follow me to investigate."
"Sir!" the soldier interjected. "There’s also a conflict between refugees and residents at Dongwang Mountain in the west—far more people are involved there. Another squad should handle that side."
After a moment’s thought, Zhao Yi said, "If the east side has fewer people, I’ll take just two men. These refugees are unarmed and merely fighting for survival—do not take their lives."
With that, he gestured to two soldiers. "You two, come with me."
Once Zhao Yi had departed, the messenger addressed the remaining troops. "Follow me."
The two groups went their separate ways, with Zhao Yi accompanied by only two men. Skilled in martial arts, he rarely needed a large force to suppress refugee unrest and thus saw no cause for concern.
His horse galloped swiftly until, from an oblique angle, a carriage suddenly surged into view. Startled, Zhao Yi yanked the reins to halt. The carriage, equally alarmed, came to a precarious stop after its horse let out a long whinny.Zhao Yi was filled with concern as he dismounted and asked, "Is the person inside unharmed?"
The coachman, clearly hired temporarily, also looked at the carriage in confusion. After a moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a bright-eyed maid in emerald-green clothes jumped out.
The maid stepped down and said to Zhao Yi, "How rude of you! If our young lady is harmed in the slightest, you’ll regret it!"
Zhao Yi, being upright and kind-hearted, replied guiltily, "It was entirely my fault. However, I have urgent business to attend to. If the young lady doesn’t mind, please tell me your residence. I will visit in a few days to personally apologize."
The maid in green pouted. "Who cares about your apology? Judging by your attire, you’re a city guard, aren’t you? Off to official business? The capital is peaceful now—could there really be trouble?"
Zhao Yi clasped his hands. "There are refugees looting in Chongxin Village east of the city. The matter is urgent. Please allow me to pass, and I will make amends upon my return."
"Chongxin Village?" A soft voice came from inside the carriage. Then, the curtain was lifted, revealing a strikingly beautiful face. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Sir, are you mistaken? How could anyone loot Chongxin Village?"
Zhao Yi was momentarily dazed by her appearance. The Zhao family had three generations of military men, and he had heard of an aunt long estranged from the family. He was accustomed to the bold and straightforward daughters of military households—never had he encountered such a radiant and delicate young lady. Though his uncles often said the daughters of civil officials were only skilled in embroidery and full of schemes, this beautiful girl before him made his cheeks warm.
A cough from the soldier behind him snapped Zhao Yi back to reality. He scratched his head sheepishly. "Young lady, why do you say that?"
Jiang Ruan observed his reaction with amusement. This cousin from the Zhao family was quite interesting. She replied, "I passed by Chongxin Village recently. It’s near the mountains and suffered severe flood damage. The original owners have long since moved away, and many refugees have settled there. Since no city residents live there, who could be looting?"
Zhao Yi stiffened, his expression turning serious. "Are you certain, young lady?"
"Why would I lie?" Jiang Ruan chuckled lightly. "And..."
Zhao Yi stared intently at her. Jiang Ruan continued, "When I visited, those refugees were armed with knives and clubs—they looked quite menacing. Do you truly intend to go there with just these two men? You might not even reach the village before they attack you."
The two soldiers behind Zhao Yi paled and hesitated. "Sir..."
As the city guard, Zhao Yi was no fool. Jiang Ruan’s words immediately made him suspect today’s incident was a premeditated trap. His brows furrowed deeply at the thought.
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Let me offer you some advice. With so many refugees in the east, two men won’t be enough. Why not borrow some men from the Capital Prefecture? The Prefect won’t ignore such a matter."Zhao Yi's mind stirred. Indeed, he only had two men with him, and charging forward recklessly was certainly not the best strategy. Yet if he didn't go to Chongxin Village, today's events would remain unclear, and he wouldn't catch the mastermind behind it all. The Metropolitan Magistrate was responsible for maintaining order in the capital, so borrowing some men wouldn't be difficult. Thinking this, he gave Jiang Ruan a deep look. This young girl had appeared inexplicably, as if specifically waiting to tell him these words. Though they seemed casually spoken... Zhao Yi pondered—did she truly know nothing? Regardless, if what Jiang Ruan said was true, she would have saved his life. Zhao Yi cupped his hands in salute. "Many thanks for the warning, miss."
"You're too kind, sir," Jiang Ruan replied lightly, letting the carriage curtain fall. Luzhu returned to the carriage, and Jiang Ruan's voice came from within, "One more piece of advice—those refugees in the eastern part of the city are vicious and brutal, far from ordinary bandits. When you borrow men from the Metropolitan Magistrate, the more the better. Otherwise, you risk complete annihilation." With that, the carriage drove off without looking back.
Zhao Yi watched as the carriage gradually disappeared from view, then mounted his horse and shouted, "To the Metropolitan Magistrate's office!"
Inside the carriage, Jiang Ruan leaned against the cushions, lost in thought. Using the excuse of visiting Lin Zixiang at the Lin residence to go out, she had finally managed to save Zhao Yi's life in time. In her past life, Zhao Yi had been hacked to death by refugees while suppressing unrest in Chongxin Village in the eastern part of the city. Back then, Jiang Ruan had never understood why unarmed refugees would suddenly turn so violent. Even if Zhao Yi's martial skills were lacking, he shouldn't have met such a gruesome end. So ever since the refugees entered the capital, she had sent Luzhu to arrange for people to keep an eye on Chongxin Village. Yesterday, someone had reported that a group of armed men had arrived at Chongxin Village disguised as refugees.
Ordinary refugees wouldn't carry so many weapons, let alone such a large group. It was clear someone had disguised themselves as refugees, preparing to ambush Zhao Yi today. The schemer's plan was cunning—shifting all blame onto the refugees. With Zhao Yi dead, the Zhao family would lose their eldest grandson. Such a heavy blow would leave them severely weakened, allowing their enemies to seize the Zhao family's wealth... The Zhao family might never recover from this.
(End of Chapter)
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